Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a serious disease of the musculoskeletal system belonging to the degenerative dystrophic group.If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, there is a likelihood of complications in the form of convexity and hernia.One faces constant painful sensations that are difficult to drown by painkillers.
When the first signs of this disease occur, you should consult your doctor immediately.With prolonged ignoring the disease, vertebrates begin to collapse and approach each other, which is why nerve fibers are transmitted.
Reasons
Statistics show that it is almost impossible to determine the exact cause of lumbar spine osteochondrosis. One and several negative factors can lead to this disease.
Doctors' observations show that most often this disease occurs against the background of the following diseases:
- A sedentary lifestyle;
- Excessive physical activity;
- Diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular and digestive systems;
- Belonging to some sports;
- Consequences of injuries and bruises;
- Joints of the joint;
- Flat legs, spinal defects;
- Impaired metabolic processes;
- Natural aging of the body.
Keep in mind that for a more successful treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, it is also necessary to affect the cause of the disease. This will help to stop the degenerative-dystrophic process, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the body.
Many doctors believe that the following factors can significantly accelerate pathological changes in the spine:
- Improper posture;
- Lack of a balanced diet;
- Long stay in uncomfortable postures;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Excess body weight;
- Frequent loads and experiences;
- Body hypothermia.
Symptoms and stages
The spine is a support for the whole body.It consists of many departments.The lumbar region includes 5 lumbar vertebrae and the same number of sacral fusion.Usually, osteochondrosis occurs between 3 and 5 lumbar or 5 lumbar and 1 sacral vertebrae.
In the initial stages, the disks begin to lose accumulated moisture.Their depreciation falls noticeably, which is why they dry up and become firm.The height of the gaps between the vertebrae falls.In any exercise, nerve fibers may occur, leading to extremely painful sensations.
A huge number of factors can cause the onset of the initial stage of osteochondrosis.Most often, hypothermia, draft leads to this.Under the influence of cold, muscle spasm occurs, which is why the spine is collected together.The nerve fiber is pressed, leading to soreness.
Due to the unclear manifestation of osteochondrosis, few people are looking for a doctor for help.In the second stage there is an increase in pressure on the intervertebral discs, which leads to their convexity.This condition is commonly called convexity.
At this stage, the discomfort of lumbar osteochondrosis increases significantly.One has severe and constant pain, back pain.Often everything is accompanied by limb numbness, tenderness along the nerve.
Over time, bone tissue is destroyed, there is a feeling of geese through the skin, cold, muscle weakness.Osteochondrosis is the biggest danger due to the fact that it can pull out the spinal cord.In this case, the patient has disorders in urination, potency and paralysis of the legs may occur.
In the third stage of osteochondrosis, complete hernias are formed.They squeeze nerve endings, can affect the spinal cord.If you contact a specialist in a timely manner, you will be able to get rid of this pathology without surgery.
In other cases, the only method of treating pathology is the surgical removal of part of the disc.
Be sure to consult your doctor to start therapy as soon as possible.
Osteochondrosis varieties in the spine
Osteochondrosis is a serious disease that requires immediate treatment.There are several varieties of this pathology - it depends on their type of treatment.
The following types of pathology are currently distinguished:
- Reflex syndromes - Lumbago, Lumbalgia, Lumboyshialgia;
- Rine syndromes-lumbosacral radiculitis;
- Radio-vascular syndromes-radiculoichemia.
With Lumbago one feels the strongest back from behind.Lumbalgia is a chronic disease, a pain that is quite acute.It is usually encountered with prolonged sitting in one position or due to exercise.Lumbosicalgia is a bright pain that gives in the limbs.At the same time, vegetative-vascular abnormalities may be present.
Radiculitis occurs against the background of pressure on two roots.There is severe pain in a particular area and impaired sensitivity.
The radiculoichemia occurs if the spinal disc begins to press on the radicular spinal artery.
Complications
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a very dangerous disease, which in the absence of timely treatment causes dangerous complications.Long -term ignoring of the initial stages can lead to a convexity - a convexity of the intervertebral disc.If it breaks in the future, hernia is formed.
An inflamed disc can pull out the spinal nerve, leading to radiculitis - an inflammatory process.Also, in the background of this pathology, needles can occur - inflammation of the sciatic nerve.Because of it, there is acute inflammation, numbness and swelling of the limbs occur.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine leads to the instability of the individual vertebrae.They begin to crawl from the sacrum, which is why problems occur with sexual internal organs.Osteochondrosis is the largest danger due to the fact that it disrupts blood circulation in the spinal cord.
Myelopathy may also occur - damage to the spinal cord due to narrowing of the spinal canal.
The biggest danger to people is the ponytail syndrome.
Diagnostic methods
It is possible to diagnose osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in the initial stages, but in rare cases it succeeds.Many people ignore the symptoms that occur, which is why they do not turn to a specialist.This pathology can be identified using the following studies:
- Spinal radiography - allows you to evaluate the narrowing of the cracks, the size of the intervertebral space;
- MRI and CT - Allow us to appreciate the degree of change in nerve and vascular components.
In addition, the patient is performed by visual examination of the back, palpation of the spine.It is very important for a specialist to gather a detailed story that allows you to determine the weight of the individual signs.
Based on diagnostic data, the specialist determines the stage of the disease, and then prescribes appropriate treatment.
Treatment
In order to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar region to lead to the result, it must be exhaustive.It is strictly forbidden to self -measure or use traditional methods of medicine - serious complications can occur.
First, the patient should put body weight in a row, minimize household loads and initiate vitamin-mineral therapy.This will have a positive effect on the work of the whole organism.It is best to contact a qualified doctor who, based on the results of the diagnosis, will determine the tactics of exposure to pathology.
Non -destruction therapy
In the second stage and further, the main purpose of treating osteochondrosis of the lumbar is to get rid of pain.There are many options for how to deal with discomfort.
Most often doctors resort to the following methods:
- Physiotherapy - the effect on the spine with laser, low frequency currents, magnetic field, ultrasound.At the same time, medicines can be used during procedures - so the effectiveness of therapy will increase significantly.Thanks to physiotherapy, it is possible not only to get rid of pain, but also to prevent the development of swelling.
- Acupuncture - the effect on biologically active points with thin needles.The procedure allows you to get rid of muscle tension, inflammation and soreness.
- Massage and Manual Therapy - Allow you to deal with muscle spasm, a significant reduction in spinal workload, improve blood supply and release frozen nerves.
- Hirudotherapy - allows you to clear the blood of toxins and toxins, relieves the inflammatory process and swelling.
- Ozone injection therapy is a procedure in which a mixture of ozonic acid is introduced into the space between the discs.It prevents the development of degenerative processes, improves metabolic rate.
Drug therapy
If the drug methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine do not carry the result for a long time, therapy may be required.
It is very important that they be prescribed by a qualified doctor - not self -confidence.
Usually the therapy for this disease includes the following medicines:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs;
- Painkillers;
- Chondroprotectors;
- Vitamin-mineral complexes.
Surgical treatment
Surgery of the spine is performed with advanced stages of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region and with a long absence of positive dynamics from drug exposure drug methods.There are many intervention options that allow you to get rid of lumbar spine osteochondrosis.
The following methods are most popular:
- Endoscopic microdiscectomy;
- Forceinomy;
- Laminectomy;
- Osteotomy;
- Facetectomy;
- Vertebroplasty;
- Laser reconstruction of the intervertebral discs;
- Risotomy.
Such procedures allow you to quickly get rid of pain.In addition, a worn -out vertebrae is replaced by artificial.Usually the surgery comes to surgery if there is no positive dynamics from conservative treatments for a few months.
Keep in mind that after such a therapy, the patient needs some time to restore motor function.In order to create a muscle corset, it is necessary to get involved in exercise therapy.
Rehabilitation period
In order to return to a full lifestyle after surgery, one must undergo a complete rehabilitation.It is necessary to restore the motor abilities of the body.The specialist puts the right posture on the patient, monitors his movements and poses.You will need to wear a special corset for a while.
Within 3 months after surgery, it is forbidden to lift a weight or to sit - thus creating an additional load on the back.At the last stage of recovery of the patient, the patient is sent to physiotherapy exercises.
Prevention
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a very dangerous disease that requires immediate treatment.
In order to minimize the likelihood of its appearance and development, it is recommended that you adhere to a number of preventative measures:
- Eat rationally and balanced;
- Do not judge the lower back;
- Participate in strengthening the back muscle of the back;
- Follow the correct stand;
- Sport regularly;
- Treat all available pathologies on time;
- Follow the mode of work and rest;
- Abandon bad habits;
- Normalizing body weight.